3/22 Bunny, 'Build in Washington,' national monuments, fish farm closures, Stanley Park GBH

Bunny

Bunny
The female rabbit is called a doe, giving birth is called kindling and baby rabbits are called kittens. Rabbit kits are born with their eyes and ears sealed shut, and completely furless.

'Build in Washington' rule may be cast overboard to obtain new ferries affordably and quickly
Every new car ferry added to the Washington State Ferries fleet over the past fifty years was built at a Puget Sound shipyard. Now, state lawmakers are considering a break from past policy in order to obtain new vessels faster and cheaper for the troubled state ferry system. On Monday, state legislative committees heard mixed testimony on proposals to cast aside long-standing "Build in Washington" procurement rules for new ferries. Identical House and Senate bills with bipartisan support would allow shipyards nationally to bid on contracts to build five new plug-in hybrid electric car ferries. Tom Banse reports. (NW News Network)

Biden To Create New Marine Sanctuary In Pacific
President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he would expeditiously expand and increase environmental protections for a group of remote atolls and islands in the Central Pacific and the nearly 777,000 square miles of waters around them. Nathan Eagle reports (Civil Beat)  Biden sets protections for a half-million acres in Texas and Nevada New national monument designations will protect Castner Range, a former military site, and Avi Kwa Ame, a sacred tribal area. Maxine Joselow and Timothy Puko report. (Washington Post)

Fish farmers launch legal challenge of fish farm closures
Three salmon farming companies and two First Nations that support fish farming are challenging federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Joyce Murray’s decision last month not to renew federal licences for 15 salmon farms in the Discovery Islands. Nelson Bennett reports. (BIV)

Great blue herons are back in Stanley Park for 23rd straight year
Last year, the colony brought about 90 new heron chicks into the world, overcoming persistent eagle raids and a late nesting season. Joseph Ruttle reports. (Vancouver Sun)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  254 AM PDT Wed Mar 22 2023   
TODAY  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 3 ft at  9 seconds building to 5 ft at 8 seconds in the afternoon. A  slight chance of showers in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 5 ft  at 8 seconds. A slight chance of showers in the evening then a  chance of showers after midnight.

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